Unexpected Love

by KaLyn Cooper

  Chapter 18

  Grace couldn’t keep her eyes off Griffin as he sauntered out of her nephew’s bedroom ten minutes later. His jeans rode low on his hips and the tight Guardian Security polo shirt hugged his every muscle. The man dwarfed her brother, who was small framed at five feet, eleven inches.

  Jere was deep in negotiations on his phone about some large, meaning expensive, piece of farming equipment. He had a home office in the basement, but that was primarily to get away from the noise of two rambunctious boys, and on occasion, his wife.

  Griffin walked over to where she was sitting on the comfortable, overstuffed couch. “Have you told your brother about the situation?”

  “Oh, heck no.” She slid him a warning glance.

  He nodded. “What have you told him about me? About my reason for being here.”

  Confession time. “I really haven’t told him anything except a friend of mine would be joining me here and I gave him your name.”

  “Grace, I think your brother needs to know.”

  She gave a small huff of laughter. “I’m pretty sure after meeting you in nothing but a towel in the hallway, he already knows that we sleep together.”

  “Sweetheart, that’s not what I’m talking about. He needs to know about the threat and that I’m here to protect you.”

  Grace did not want to bring her family into this terrible situation, but she’d already done that. Now she had to deal with it. “Okay, but just Jere. You haven’t met my sister, Rebecca, yet but if she had even the slightest clue, we would have the national news here, and she’d be the one giving the interviews.”

  “Good to know, I’ll stay the fuck away from her.” Griffin’s eyebrows knit together. “Don’t you have two sisters?”

  “Yes, and hopefully Maggie, will be here tonight. She’s been in Idaho at a missionary retreat. From what Mom told me, she’s been here for a few days at a time ever since my dad’s heart attack.”

  Jere finished up his conversation and walked over to join them, sitting on the loveseat. “Yeah, Maggie should be here in a couple hours. She was going to stop by the hospital and see Dad before coming over here to say hi to Gracie. Which reminds me, since they’re limiting how many people can visit him, do you mind giving up your slot tonight to Maggie?”

  “Heavens no, I’m here for at least a couple more days.” Grace told her brother, but there was more to her reason for staying inside. If she went to the hospital, Griffin would have to go with her, and then she’d have to explain to her mother why he was there. Kind of a chicken move, but one she was willing to make.

  Her brother glanced up at Griffin. “Don’t worry, Maggie and her friend aren’t staying here. Her friend’s parents are in Europe and they have a huge house over on the other side of town.”

  “If our staying here becomes a problem, we can move to a hotel,” Griffin offered. “But we do have situation we would like to discuss with you.”

  Grace wasn’t going to let Griffin conduct this conversation. “Jere, you know I’m still in the Navy, and to be honest with you, I intend to make it my career. I want to stay on active duty until I get in my twenty years, at least.”

  “Yeah, I don’t know where Mom and Dad got the idea you work for some international bank, but I’m not sure you can change their mind,” he warned.

  Grace glanced down at her watch. “We don’t have long before the boys get home. I’m just going to tell you straight out, there’s a price on my head and Griffin is here as my bodyguard.” She took his hand and intertwined their fingers. Blushing, she added, “As you are well aware, he’s more than that to me.”

  Incredulity twisted Jere’s face. “You think somebody’s going to come after you here? In the middle of Iowa? And what do you mean there’s a price on your head? What the hell are you involved in?” Her brother didn’t swear very often, but he certainly knew how.

  “All you can know is that my job is to protect the citizens of the United States from some of the worst men in the world. Don’t kid yourself, there’s a terrorist training camp less than twenty miles from here.”

  “What? That’s bull crap,” her brother protested. “I know every farm in a fifty mile radius, and there’s no terrorist camp here.”

  Griffin handed Jere his phone. “Do you recognize this location? Have you ever been there?”

  Jere stared at the phone, then used his fingers to expand and contract the location. “That’s the old Wilkerson farm, or at least part of it. The kids sold it off in several sections. They had no interest in farming. After that dirt and their parents’ sweat put them through college, they couldn’t get out of Iowa fast enough.” He kept expanding one particular portion. “Is this what I think it is? Looks like they’re putting in a prepper bunker.”

  Griffin got up to sit beside her brother, conferring for several minutes.

  “And you think these men are after Gracie?” Jere pinned Griffin with his stare.

  “We don’t know, it could be anyone,” Grace admitted. “Maybe we should just leave.”

  “No, you’re safe here, and I know you wanted to be here for Mom and Dad.” Jere glanced at Griffin. “This house sits in the middle of fifteen acres that I own. I don’t like nosy neighbors.”

  “May I put up some temporary surveillance around your property?” Griffin asked.

  “Does it have to be temporary?” Jere nodded toward the phone. “I might want something a little more permanent to protect my family.”

  Griffin smiled. “We might be able to work something out.”

  Little boy voices cracked the air. Jeb and Joe came running into the living room and abruptly halted.

  “Who are you?” Joe asked.

  “I’m your Aunt Gracie’s boyfriend,” Griffin responded before she could even open her mouth.

  Jere’s phone rang, and he told the boys they had to be quiet.

  “Why don’t you two go change into your play clothes. Do either of you have a football?” Griffin asked.

  “I have a football, and I don’t need to change,” Jeb announced.

  His father looked up from the phone. “Yes, you do. Go find some old clothes.” Jeb trudged off toward his room.

  “I’ve got lots of old clothes I can play in,” Joe proclaimed and dashed off to his room.

  Griffin and Jere made eye contact, confirming it was fine to go outside and toss a ball around. Grace went down the hall to make sure the boys actually changed their clothes and the dirty ones made it into the hamper. They seem to be doing well on their own, so feeling relatively useless she returned to the living room.

  “Want some company?” Grace offered.

  “I’d rather you stay inside until we get surveillance operational.” Griffin must’ve seen the dejection in her eyes because he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ll start putting the system up after I play with the boys.”

  Grace watched as Griffin took time with each child, showing him how to throw the ball, and the correct way to catch it.

  “He’s good with the boys,” Jere noted. “I’ve learned a few things listening to him. Did he play ball somewhere?”

  “Yes, the University of Georgia.” That was the extent of Grace’s knowledge of his football years. She quickly whipped out her phone and discovered that her self-proclaimed boyfriend actually started for three years, and had two bowl rings. Oops, three including something they call the East-West Bowl.

  Once again feeling useless, she offered, “Can I start something for supper?”

  “That would be wonderful, because it’s my night to cook.” He glanced toward the kitchen then tilted his head that way. “Help yourself.”

  While Grace was digging through the freezer, her phone rang. “Grace Hall.”

  “Is this a secure line?” Dang. She should’ve looked at the caller ID. Pressing the button to ensure their security, she answered, “Yes, sir.”

  Jumping right into the conversation, the general said, “I’m sure Griffin shared with you the infor
mation about the training camp, but we’ve just discovered even more. They’re sending envoys onto the local college campuses recruiting what most would think of as typical farm boys. This increases your problem exponentially. Do not trust anyone.”

  Great. One more thing I have to worry about. “Yes, sir.”

  “I don’t see your security system up yet. Tell Griffin to get on that,” he commanded.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Stay safe, Grace. SOCOM out.” The line went dead.

  Grace found everything she needed to make one of the boys’ favorite meals, macaroni and cheese with hot dog pieces. She also knew it was one of Jere’s favorite but doubted Denise made it for them often. She was into organic and eating fresh. Last time Grace checked, there was nothing fresh in a hotdog.

  Her sister-in-law arrived home shortly after six, looking grateful that Jere didn’t cook supper. Grace was surprised that Griffin dug in like a ten-year-old, eating everything he served himself, then making sure everybody else at the table had seconds before he piled more on his plate.

  Grace didn’t want to count the carbs in the meal, and hoped that Griffin would feel like a run the next morning.

  Around eight o’clock, there was a knock at the door. Grace and Griffin automatically slid out the back of the house, each taking a side, guns drawn. A normal terrorist probably wouldn’t knock, but given the general’s warning earlier that day, no one was to be trusted.

  As Grace rounded the corner, she saw her sister and longtime friend Gwen. Grace quickly slid her gun into the holster at the small of her back and trotted toward her, “Maggie, you made it.” She hand signaled Griffin to let him know everything was fine.

  Maggie’s hug was so wonderful.

  “Was Dad awake when you went in?” Grace asked as they entered the house through the front door.

  “No, they still have them all doped up.” Maggie sounded perturbed. “He’s never awake when I’m here. But at least I get to talk to Mom.”

  “Yeah, that’s the way I feel, too. I flew halfway around the world to watch my dad sleep in a hospital bed.” Grace realized the minute she might have said too much.

  In conspiratorially low tone, Maggie confessed, “I know you’re still in the Navy. Were you over…there?”

  Coyly, Grace smiled. “And where exactly is there?”

  Her sister sighed and tilted her head. “Were you in the Middle East when you heard about Dad?”

  “No, but I had just gotten back.” At Grace’s confession, Maggie grabbed her in a hug and just held her.

  “I pray for you every day, sometimes two and three times a day.” Her sister hugged her even tighter.

  Just knowing that Maggie thought about her on a regular basis warmed Grace’s soul. She felt like a lousy sister because she never thought of either sister that often.

  “Jeb, Joe, go hug your Aunt Maggie and Aunt Gracie. Tell each of them one thing about your day that was special, then you two need to be off to bed,” Denise instructed.

  Obediently, Jeb came to Grace and hugged her. “The best part of my day was playing catch with Uncle Griffin.” Grace was frozen in place at the name, Uncle Griffin. She started to correct the child, pointing out that Griffin was not his uncle and was never going to be, but her mouth couldn’t form the words.

  “Change,” Denise called out.

  Jeb hugged her tight. “Thanks for bringing Uncle Griffin to meet us. He can sleep in my bed, too.”

  At that declaration, all the adults burst out laughing and stared at Grace and Griffin. Heat rose up her neck and tinged her cheeks crimson. Nothing like an eleven-year-old giving his aunt permission to have sex.

  Joe came over and crawled right up in her lap. “Susie Skelly threw up on the bus today and it really smelled bad.”

  “That was your good thing to tell Aunt Gracie?” His father asked from across the room.

  “Well, the good thing was, she got to go home early and the pukie smell was gone by the time the bus brought us home,” the eight-year-old explained.

  “I’m glad that all worked out for you,” Grace tried to say with a straight face.

  “Okay, boys, go give Daddy a hug, then don’t forget me. I’ll read you a story when I see you in your pajamas.” Both boys did as asked but when they reached their mother, she sniffed. “Change in plans. Bath.” She rose and headed to the hall bathroom, the boys dragging their feet behind her.

  “Have they told you where you’re going on your first mission trip?” Jere asked Maggie.

  She looked at her friend. “We’re hoping for Kenya.”

  “I was there last year, just for two months, and it was one of the most stunning places on earth,” Gwen explained.

  Grace inhaled deeply, and mumbled, “Wouldn’t be my first choice.”

  Griffin chuckled. “Kenya wouldn’t even make my list.”

  Wide eyed, Maggie looked at them both. “What were you doing in Kenya? I’ve never heard of any U.S. bases there. It’s really a very peaceful nation.”

  Grace and Griffin gave each other a yeah right look. Jere glanced between them before he leaned back in his recliner as though waiting for a good story. When Griffin tilted his head slightly toward her, she took that as permission to start.

  “I wasn’t there for very long. We arrived at night, then hiked for several miles and camped out near Mount Kenya.” That was all Grace was going to say about that mission.

  “Aren’t the people absolutely wonderful?” Gwen gushed. “They were so welcoming and really appreciated everything we brought for them. Don’t you agree, Gracie?”

  “Not everybody who travels to that part of the world has the same experience.” Grace wouldn’t consider the two running firefights they’d been in as welcoming. She also didn’t think the agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture—who were there to help the farmers in that area recover from a drought—consider the local’s actions appreciative when they had all of their food and clothing stolen from them just before they were beaten and left for dead.

  “That area of the world can be extremely dangerous.” Grace had to add the warning. The naïveté of both girls is what kept SEALs busy rescuing stranded Americans.

  “So, where else have you been?” Gwen asked, excitement filling her voice. “I’ll bet your passport is filled.”

  “I’d take that that bet,” Griffin said under his breath.

  Jere slid him a glance.

  Before Grace could answer, two towel-wrapped boys scurried across the hall.

  “Get your jammies on, and I’ll let you have one more round of kisses,” Denise called over the gurgle of the emptying bathtub.

  A moment later, the two boys reappeared, scrubbed clean and ready for bed. Each one kissed every adult good night, even their newly christened Uncle Griffin. Denise leaned against the wall at the end of the hall looking tired and frazzled.

  Before Grace could jump up and volunteer, Griffin was already on his feet. “How ’bout y’all sit a spell and family visit while I read a bedtime story to the boys.” He said in his best southern drawl. “I love evenin’ time with my little nieces and nephews ’n don’t get enough of it these days.” He went down the hall and into the first bedroom on the right, talking to the boys in that low, slow, southern way of his.

  Every time she turned around, Griffin surprised her once again. She’d never pictured him as comfortable with children, yet tossing the ball outside with her nephews today, he seemed completely relaxed, enjoying the interaction with the small children. She wondered how he was with tiny newborn babies.

  As Grace chatted, she listened to the animated voices Griffin was creating down the hall. She knew her time with her family was very limited, but her heart tugged to sneak down and peek into the boys’ room, just to watch the interaction.

  A few minutes before nine, Griffin quietly sat down beside her.

  “Thank you for taking that duty tonight.” Denise curled up in the corner of the couch. “I’m sure the boys appreciate it as mu
ch as I do.”

  “It was my pleasure, ma’am.” He threw his arm around Grace and pulled her in. “When we get a few days, I’m gonna have to take you to Augusta to meet my nieces and nephews.”

  The invitation touched her heart, but the fact that he was already planning a future for them, caressed her very soul.

  She was falling in love with Griffin.

  After her sister left, Grace helped Denise and Jere pick up the house and finish the dishes while Griffin prepared for bed in the bathroom.

  Jere leaned back to see that the bathroom door was closed. “Griffin is very different from Kevin.”

  “In some ways.” She admitted. “Okay, in most ways but that’s not a bad thing,” She went on to defend him.

  “He’s really big,” Denise noted as she put another dish in the dishwasher. “Kevin was small, and not intimidating at all.”

  “But you’ve seen how gentle he is with the boys…and especially with me.” Grace remembered his light touch on every inch of her body as he ignited the flame within her, taking her to places she’d never been before.

  “Well, I like him,” her brother said and came over to kiss her on top of her head.

  “I like him, too.” She hugged her brother, then her sister-in-law. When she turned the corner, Griffin was standing there. She took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom.

  He grinned as he sat on the edge of the bed, then pulled her into his lap. “So you like me?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I’m in pretty serious like with you.” She leaned down and kissed him, needing to keep it serious, but light. She stood up and pulled him to his feet “Come on. We need to go pull your bed out of the couch.”

  He pulled her into his arms and she felt so safe. “Just let you know, I’m pretty seriously in like with you, too.”

  Chapter 19

  A house filled with school-aged children starts early, but Griffin had already been up for two hours, gone for a run concentrating on sprints, showered and was dressed before Jere wandered into his son’s room to roust them.